More Details and Screenings of Pixar’s LAVA Short in Hawaii

If you live in Hawaii and can get yourself to Oahu, there are two free screenings of the next animated short from Disney / Pixar – LAVA. There’s one on Friday Nov 7 and one on November 9 as part of the Hawaii International Film Festival.

To help preview the event, the short’s director, James Ford Murphy, was interviewed by KHON 2 about his inspiration for the piece.

“Since I was a kid, I’ve always been fascinated by tropical islands and active volcanoes, and it was this interest that led to my discovery of the Hawaiian Islands in books and in Elvis Presley movies I found at a very young age. But it wasn’t until my wife, Kathy, and I honeymooned on the Big Island in 1989 that I was able to witness my fascination of this place in person. Ever since that trip, I’ve been in love with Hawaii, active volcanoes, and Hawaiian music and culture.

I’ll never forget the first time I heard Israel Kamakawiwoole sing “Over the Rainbow.” It was on an episode of “ER” that I was watching with my wife. I immediately recognized this song from one of my favorite films, “The Wizard of Oz,” but when I heard Iz’s version, I was reminded of the love affair I have with Hawaii and it instantly reignited the powerful connection I feel for the love I shared with my wife there in 1989.

So when it came time for me to develop short film ideas I thought to myself, what if I could write a song that makes me feel the way that song does, and combine it with the love, admiration and powerful connect I feel to the Hawaiian islands.”